- This last four months has reached the highest number of bonus titles since its implementation on September 1, 2022
- In the year 2023 more than 312,000 fertilizers have been issued in the Basque Country
- Until September, Renfe’s public services in the Basque Country registered a demand of 16.7 million customers, 46% more than in the same period of 2022,
- For this year, Renfe extends the anti-fraud measures in the Media Distancia services, while starting an awareness campaign on the good use of fertilizers
Renfe has issued 108,140 free Short Distance and Medium Distance subscriptions in the Basque Country between 1 September and 31 December last year.
Of the total number of free multi-travel tickets issued, 101,622 correspond to tickets for travel in the different Neighbourhoods centres, while the remaining 6,518 tickets are for Medium Distance trips.
The use of subscriptions during this 2023 is assuming an increase in passengers on public service trains in the Basque Country. In the first nine months of the year, Renfe has increased by 46% the number of passengers transported in the Vicinity and Medium Distance services in the Basque Country compared to the same period of 2022. With this increase, a total of 16,682,528 customers have registered in Renfe’s public services.
With regard to Neighbourhoods, the data accumulated during the first nine months of 2023 amount to 10,917,695 customers in Bizkaia and 5,440,306 in Gipuzkoa. The number of customers on Medium Distance journeys in the Basque Country reached 324,527 passengers, 80% more than in the same period of the previous year.
Environmental benefits
In the Basque Country, the use of Renfe’s public service trains has made it possible to avoid:
- The consumption of almost 19 million liters of gasoline
- Emission of 55 million kg of CO2 and more than 263,000 kg of Nitrogen Dioxide
- These emissions are equivalent to:
o CO2 consumption of 802,110 trees annually
o A power generation of 177,894,819 kwh
o Energy-saving light bulbs on for 16.8 million years
o Energy consumption of about 20.5 million homes during a day
New free subscriptions for 2024
From last Saturday and throughout its period of validity, Renfe users can obtain the free subscriptions of Neighbourhoods and Media Distancia to travel until April 30.
To speed up the purchase of subscriptions and avoid unnecessary waits, the purchase of subscriptions is possible through the Renfe Proximity app or, in the case of Media Distancia subscriptions, through the web www.renfe.com. To do this, the customer must be registered in advance.
Promotion of the good use of fertilizers in Media Distancia
In 2024, Renfe will deepen the initiatives to avoid the irregular use of subscriptions in Media Distancia services, where an irregular use is still detected that prevents all citizens from enjoying these measures.
Thus, in conventional Media Distancia routes, Renfe has extended to one hour (currently it is 10 minutes) the time in which a reservation must be formalized or, in case of not making the trip, canceled. In this way, users who are not going to use the reserved space with the subscriptions must cancel it with a minimum of 60 minutes in advance. In the event that, at least three times, they have not canceled the place with the aforementioned advance, they will lose the right to purchase new subscriptions during the following 30 days.
Previously, Renfe will send the traveler, on the occasion of the first two cancellations not made with the minimum required advance, communications to the contact provided by the same, which warns him of the possible consequences.
Awareness campaign
In order to promote the good use of these bonus titles, Renfe will launch an awareness-raising campaign for citizens from the second week of January. In this way, it will be said that the misuse of subscriptions is a detriment to the rest of citizens who want to travel.
Additionally, Renfe will perform random checks on its Media Distancia services to check the correct use of the bonus titles. In the event of detection of non-compliance with the regulations, the anti-fraud measures established in these services will be applied.
Commuter App to get the free membership
The Neighbourhoods app allows the acquisition of recurring Neighbourhoods subscriptions quickly, easily and quickly, generating a QR code that is downloaded to the mobile phone and that can then be used in the access control of the stations.
To purchase the subscription, although it is free, it is necessary to deposit a deposit of 10 euros in the case of Neighbourhoods and 20 euros for each conventional Media Distancia service. The payment by card will allow the automatic return of the deposit, once at the end of the semester it is established that the condition of having made 16 trips during these four months has been fulfilled.
For children under 14 years old without a ID, a recurring subscription has also been created for Media Distancia services, which can be purchased in renfe.com or by the Renfe app. Father, mother or guardian or guardian may acquire, by means of their NIF, NIE or passport, a maximum of four children’s subscriptions for an origin and destination, during the period of validity.
Bail Back
Passengers who have used the free Short Distance or Medium Distance pass in the last quarter 2023 will be refunded the deposit, provided that they have fulfilled the conditions of the same. Those who will pay the deposit by card, will be returned automatically.
To facilitate communication with customers, Renfe has set up a specific telephone line, 91 919 15 67, to report these free subscriptions.